MONTREAL - As debate continues over the Conservative government's new anti-terror legislation, QMI Agency has an exclusive Leger Marketing poll indicating four in 10 Canadians are "ready to give up civil liberties to curb terrorism."

That's the highest mark since March 2012, when Leger began asking the question for the Association for Canadian Studies.

Leger polled 1,500 Canadians from Feb. 9 to 11, days after the Harper government tabled Bill C-51.

The legislation, already endorsed by the opposition Liberals, would make terrorism-related arrests easier for police.

The bill would also broadly expand the powers of Canada's spy agency, CSIS, to "disrupt" terrorist websites and social media accounts.

Forty per cent of Canadians, including 56% of Albertans, were ready to give up freedoms if it meant stopping terrorists, the Leger poll suggests.

Another 48% disagreed, with Quebecers (60%) far less willing to give up rights than other Canadians.

The older the respondent, the more they would surrender freedoms in the fight against terrorism, the poll indicates.

Demographer Jack Jedwab, whose Montreal research group commissioned the survey, said the soldier killings in Ottawa and Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que., are still on people's minds four months after the fact.

"These dramatic, high profile acts are affecting the public's consciousness," said Jedwab, adding that even people who would normally reject a bill like C-51 are having "serious reflection."

University of Alberta political scientist Thomas Butko said he isn't surprised Albertans are more bullish than other Canadians when it comes to anti-terror measures.

"I think it has to do with the political culture," he said. "(Alberta is) a very conservative province, very traditional, security type of values."

But Butko, who specializes in Islamic fundamentalism, isn't sure that expanding the powers of CSIS will stop terrorists.

"There's probably going to be another attack," he said. "You're never going to be 100% protected."